Charlie
Lawrence

What route did you take into university?

Before coming to NTU, I was playing football full time for Swindon Town FC. Alongside this, I had completed a BTEC in Sporting Excellence and Performance, which enabled me to enter the engineering foundation year. After passing this, I was onto the first year of the Sport Engineering course.

It may not have been the typical route to university that most people may experience, but I am grateful for the NTU foundation year programme as it allowed an alternative pathway into what I was passionate for.

How did you hear about your course?

I found the course on the NTU website, whilst I was looking for courses within sport that excluded sport science. I had many conversations with staff at the football club and I had decided that I didn’t want to pursue a sports science degree and it was evident I was much more interested in the ways equipment can influence performance.

Had you visited Nottingham Trent University before you applied here?  

Yes, I had attended an open day at Clifton Campus. I also had a conversation and a guided tour with a member of staff, who was passionate about their experience within the department. They also were knowledgeable about what the current students at the time were doing within the department with regards to their projects and also explaining the modules they take.

This academic’s enthusiasm for sports equipment research and development resonated with me and my interests and it was clear to me that studying Sport Engineering at NTU would develop this passion and curiosity further.

When you first heard about the course, what was it that particularly appealed to you?

It was the opportunity to work with the latest sports equipment, to develop problem solving skills and also a chance to learn how to improve the performance, accessibility and safety features of these to enhance the user experience. Having finished the course now, I can reflect on this and confidently say I have achieved all of these.

What would you describe as the strengths of your course?

It provides a holistic knowledge of engineering principles with core modules ranging from ergonomics in human factors engineering to fluid dynamics in industrial design and product case studies, which are key undertones to any engineering degree. The core engineering modules were integrated well with sport specific modules, and it was clear to see the implication of these engineering principles being used in sports equipment.

Can you give specific examples of topics and projects covered on your course?

A topic I enjoyed was the helmet design project in the Mechanical Engineering in Sport module. I chose to design, test and optimise a cycling time trial helmet to create the lowest drag possible whilst not compromising the safety of the design.

Another project I enjoyed was the validation of smartwatch metrics during my third year Experimental Methods in Human Performance module. It was great to work with current smartwatch models, assess their features and compare their outputs to industry gold standard measurements.

Every summer for eight weeks, students have the chance to gain valuable experience by assisting research in an NTU EROS project. I was fortunate to have been selected to assist in research into thermoregulation of cycling skinsuits with Dr. Steve Faulkner. This gave me valuable experience and confidence using lots of lab equipment as well as broadening my knowledge and awareness of different ways these suits can be tested.

What practical equipment did you have available to you on your course?

Both sport engineering labs are full of equipment to test current sports gear, such as the climate chamber, Mecmesin tensile tester, C-Therm CTI and the James Heal ProDry and AirPro. During my projects I have also had access to all other lab spaces within the department, and I have made use of the IT suite for CAD, FEA and CFD, the robotics lab with Vicon motion capture cameras and force plates and also use of the wind tunnel for aerodynamic testing and analysis.

What skills do you feel you have learned as a result of this course and how will they help you in the future?

I feel that the technical skills learned, such as coding, CAD, FEA and CFD, reverse engineering and product and data analysis have set up a great foundation to approach and solve engineering problems especially focussed towards sports equipment.

These skills are complimented by many soft skills that have been developed during my time at university. The ability to work in both small and large teams, communicate with industry partners during projects and to take on a leadership role within a sports club have all contributed towards my successes at university and I am sure will be essential for working within any team in industry.

What has been your greatest achievement as a Nottingham Trent University student?

It’s hard to choose one as there are so many things I have done that I would call a success! A big achievement for me was being nominated as the vote of thanks speaker for my graduation ceremony and standing up and giving the penultimate speech in front of all my fellow graduates and their parents. It was a big achievement to write and deliver this speech on behalf of my whole cohort and to close my NTU experience like this was unforgettable.

Did you feel well supported by the academic staff ?

All the lecturers are only an email or a Teams message away when I had any queries about course content. They have always been happy to answer questions and engage in conversations about topics outside of the modules, such as the releases of new kit and potential job vacancies that may be of interest to us as sport engineers.

I’ve had lots of positive interactions with the technicians in the department too, who are always on hand to assist with queries about projects and lab use.

What have you enjoyed most about studying at Nottingham Trent University?

I enjoyed the balance between studying and sporting opportunities NTU had to offer. I represented NTU Tennis during my studies and having that outlet to play regular high-level sport in a facility only a minute away from my lecture halls was so beneficial for me.

I also felt valued as a student at NTU, by students and staff, who were able to listen and collaborate ideas, which enhanced my study experience.

What are your career plans?

I am currently working as a CNC machinist, primarily responsible for producing parts for the automotive and aerospace industry. I have already learned so much in my short time in this role, about working in a small team, working under pressure and ensuring all parts are up to a high standard and are finished correctly, which requires a lot of attention to detail.

I wish to transfer these skills as well as the technical skills learned at university over to a prototyping, research and development role, hopefully in the sports industry.